Titanic Victim’s Letter For Auction

Titanic victim’s letter written a day before disaster is up for auction 105 years on.

The note was sent by Alexander Oskar Holverson, 42, who died on April 14, 1912, when the ship crashed into an iceberg.

He was writing to his mother Rachel Holverson after setting off for America on the ill-fated journey on April 13, 1912. ‘So far we have had very good weather. If all goes well we will arrive in New York on Wednesday A.M,’ he wrote. Sadly he didn’t make it and died along with 1,522 passengers and crew despite having been in first class.

Now 105 years later the letter, which is the last known to have been written, is set to go under auction and could raise a staggering £119,000. That amount was raised by another letter from the Titanic by survivor Esther Hart, which was sold two years ago.

As well as the document, which was found in his notebook, the lot also includes a note written be his grieving mother and a photo of Mr Holverson and his wife Mary.

His correspondence is also unique in that it is the only one to reference the richest passenger on the Titanic – John Astor. Mr Astor, whose wealth was likened to Bill Gates, also died after deciding to stay on the ship because he apparently thought the lifeboats were too flimsy.

Andrew Aldridge, of Henry Aldridge and Son Auctioneers, said: ‘Since this one was recovered from Mr Holverson’s body he obviously had hoped to send it on to his mother from New York. ‘Together with his mother’s letter, it paints a sad picture of a real personal tragedy.’ The auction for the letter in Devizes, Wiltshire, takes place on October 21. The note, which was valued at £80,000, is being sold by a third party.